🌟 Good morning, Des Moines!
Your weekly nudge to get out, feel connected, and love where you live.
In this week’s AroundDSM:
🍸 A Norwalk happy hour that made the martini feel like a very reasonable life choice.
🎸 Cowboy hats, beards, and a whole lot of classic rock are heading to Water Works Park.
🔮 A psychic fair got bumped back a few days, but the magical vibes are still on the calendar.
🍽️ Restaurant Spotlight
Cooper’s Central Table & Cocktails | 1400 Chatham Ave. #101, Norwalk |
Photo: Fried pickles with ranch | Emily Johnson
Photo: Protein Bowl | Emily Johnson
🍸 Yes, I realize I featured Cooper’s on 5th not that long ago, but this time I made my way to the Norwalk location and it was worth the trip. My friend and I met up for happy hour on a Tuesday, which turned out to be excellent timing since martinis were $4 off. Naturally, I ordered the Metropolitan — a classic for a reason.
🥒 We started with the fried pickles, which come beer-battered with housemade ranch and ketchup, but we asked for a side of the creamy parmesan dressing instead since neither of us wanted ketchup. Great call. Our server also suggested trying the Green Goddess dressing next time, which honestly sounds like the kind of tip you file away immediately.
🥗 For dinner, we ordered the Cubano with fries and the Protein Bowl with spinach, marinated chickpeas, quinoa, corn relish, tomato, hard boiled egg, and honey poppy dressing. My Protein Bowl was filling, fresh, and delicious which made the martini feel like a perfectly acceptable trade-off. The place filled up fast, service stayed attentive, and the suggestions were genuinely helpful. Definitely worth a visit. 👉 View the menu here.
🤝 Partner Spotlight: Systeme.io | Build Your Business With One Tool For FREE!
First of all, the name isn’t spelled incorrectly - it really is Systeme.io. I’ve been using it for almost two years now and what stands out most is that it gives you everything you need to run a business in one place. What I used to pay for Kajabi in one month is how much I pay Systeme.io for an entire year! They even have a free plan to get started.
If you’ve ever thought about starting an online business, selling a product, growing an email list, or creating a course, but immediately felt overwhelmed by all the tech and monthly subscriptions, this might be worth a look.
With this platform, you can:
build landing pages and sales funnels
grow an email list and send emails
sell physical or digital products
host online courses or memberships
create an affiliate program
schedule meetings
organize your offers in a simple storefront
Basically, it can do the work of a bunch of separate tools without the giant learning curve or giant price tag.
If you’re in that “I know I want to build something, but I don’t want to make this harder than it needs to be” stage, this could be a solid starting point.
👉 Try systeme.io
🎉 Top 5 Things to Do
Photo: Dwight Yoakam & ZZ Top concert | https://www.waterworkspark.org/event/dwight-yoakam-and-zz-top/
The best bets handpicked for your week:
🎸 Dwight Yoakam & ZZ Top: Dos Amigos Tour | Des Moines Water Works Park
If your ideal spring night includes live music, outdoor air, and a crowd that absolutely knows the words, this one’s calling your name. Dwight Yoakam and ZZ Top sharing a bill at Water Works Park has major “go because when else?” energy, and it feels like one of those shows people will be talking about all weekend.
| Thursday, May 7th | Doors 5 pm, Show 6 pm | Tickets Required |💪 NANBF Natural Iowa Bodybuilding Championships | Franklin Junior High Event Center
This 32nd annual championship brings serious dedication, big stage energy, and the always-inspiring Transformation Challenge. Even if bodybuilding isn’t normally your thing, there’s something undeniably motivating about being in a room full of people who committed to the work and showed up for it.
| Saturday, May 9th | 10 am | $40 adults, $20 kids | Tickets Required |
🔮 May the 4th Psychic Fair | Des Moines New Age Shop & Community Center
The date shifted, but the crystals, readings, and magical community vibes are still on the way. Expect intuitive sessions, welcoming energy, and the kind of weekend outing that feels a little mysterious in the best possible way.
| Saturday, May 9th–Sunday, May 10th | Check event details |
🎻 Dave Matthews Tribute Band | Wooly’s
Whether you’re a longtime Dave Matthews fan or just someone who enjoys a nostalgia-fueled Sunday night out, this sounds like a fun one. Wooly’s is a great venue for this kind of show too — lively enough to lean into it, casual enough that you can just show up and enjoy the ride.
| Sunday, May 10th | Doors 6 pm, Show 7 pm | Tickets Required |
💐 Mother’s Day Brunches Across the Metro | Various Dates & Locations
If you haven’t made Mother’s Day plans yet, this is your gentle nudge to stop procrastinating. Plenty of local spots are putting together brunch specials across the metro, so whether your mom wants pancakes, mimosas, steak, or just a meal she didn’t have to plan herself, there are some solid options out there. The following is a sampling. Click on the restaurant for more details.
🐶 Family-Friendly Pick: Dog Mom Day at Paws & Pints | Saturday, May 9th | 11 am
Honestly, this one is cute enough to deserve its own little spotlight. Dog Mom Day at Paws & Pints is celebrating moms and dog moms alike with $3 brunch drinks, brunch features, flowers, a photo booth, local vendors, giveaways, and half-off day passes for dog moms. All ages are welcome, so whether you’re bringing kids, friends, or just your four-legged favorite, this feels like a pretty delightful way to spend part of Saturday.
More information here.
Stop wondering what to do and start doing. Pick one and make it happen!
🐾 Pet Pick-Me-Up
Now get out there, Des Moines!
With local love,
Emily
AroundDSM
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